A new Raffles address on Shura Island
Raffles Hotels & Resorts has announced the debut of Raffles The Red Sea on Shura Island, bringing the brand to a new coastal address in Saudi Arabia's Red Sea destination. The resort sits between a lagoon and the open sea, with its accommodation spread along the island's northwestern shoreline. In its 14 October 2026 announcement, the company describes a residential-style retreat designed around the surrounding water and landscape.
The setting is particularly relevant to travellers who approach a holiday through the sea rather than a conventional city break. Shura Island is being developed with beaches, marina facilities, golf, dining and opportunities to explore the coast. Raffles The Red Sea is one part of that wider destination, and the scope of the island should not be confused with the amenities already operating inside the new hotel.
Rooms, suites and private pool villas
The announced accommodation mix comprises 121 guestrooms, 14 suites and 33 private pool villas. Guestrooms have private terraces with views towards the lagoon or sea, while suites offer more extensive indoor and outdoor space. The villas are intended for travellers seeking additional privacy and the freedom to spend time outside without leaving their accommodation. The different formats give couples and multigenerational parties several ways to structure a stay.
Raffles says every guestroom, suite and villa receives its signature Butler Service. The point of that service is continuity and a more personalised experience, rather than a different public facility for each room category. Families should still confirm the exact configuration of a villa or connecting accommodation when booking, since the headline number of villas alone does not establish how many guests each can sleep comfortably.
Design shaped by the coastline
The hotel forms part of Shura Island's Coral Bloom masterplan, developed by Foster + Partners for the island destination. Raffles describes its own spaces as following the contours of the site, with terraces, planted routes and layered interiors that carry coastal colours indoors. The architectural relationship between buildings and shoreline is an important part of the arrival experience, not merely a backdrop for resort photography.
Outdoor space also gives the property a different rhythm from a tower hotel. A morning might begin on a private terrace, move towards the beach, and end close to the water without requiring a long excursion. Such a pattern depends on the final operation of each facility and the weather on the day, but the resort's plan clearly places views, gardens and movement between indoor and outdoor settings at the centre.
Five dining concepts planned in phases
Raffles The Red Sea has announced five restaurant and lounge concepts, spanning Eastern Mediterranean, Asian and Arabian flavours. Ni'ma is conceived around shared dishes from the Eastern Mediterranean, while Siparaja draws on Singapore's layered food culture, connecting the new resort with the place where the Raffles name began. El Nay is a relaxed setting for Pan-Arabic mezze, Saudi tea, coffee and shisha close to the waterfront.
Anbara is designed to reinterpret Raffles afternoon tea through Arabian pastries and regional ingredients, and the Pool Bar is planned as a casual family option. The operator explicitly states that its restaurants and lounges will open in phases, with specialty venues and the bar following later. Guests should therefore check which locations are accepting diners at their travel dates, rather than assume all five are already operating.
Wellbeing with a staged spa opening
The proposed Raffles Spa & Wellness offering includes seven treatment rooms, a hammam, sauna and steam areas, a vitality pool and an outdoor lap pool. Private and in-room rituals are also part of the stated plan. However, the hotel announcement makes clear that the spa and adult pool are for a future phase, so they should not be presented as amenities available on the first day of the resort's debut.
In the meantime, the island offers ways to balance relaxation with activity, including a gym, padel and water sports where operating. For a traveller choosing between a spa-led stay and a more active coastal itinerary, timing now matters. Confirming the opening status of a particular treatment area is more useful than relying on a general description of what the completed resort is intended to provide.
Discovering the surrounding marine environment
Beyond the hotel, Shura Island includes a marina and Marina Village, alongside the Shura Links golf course, identified by the destination as Saudi Arabia's first 18-hole island course. WAMA offers water-sports activities, while Galaxea focuses on diving and marine discovery. These island experiences provide a reason to spend time outside the property and encounter the Red Sea as a place, not simply a view from a terrace.
Water-based outings should be planned around local conditions, availability and the individual operator's requirements. A diving expedition will not suit every visitor, and the announcement does not suggest that every island activity is included in a hotel room rate. Guests with a particular excursion in mind will benefit from checking opening schedules and practical arrangements with the relevant operator before travel.
Culture and family experiences
A Raffles Curator is intended to connect guests with local art, literature, storytelling and craftsmanship. This provides a cultural counterpart to the resort's beach and marine activities, linking a visit with Saudi traditions and the wider region. The operator presents its Curator's Room as a setting for more intimate encounters and gatherings, rather than a conventional museum or an attraction separate from the resort.
Dedicated children's and teenagers' centres are also planned, but their opening is part of a later phase. This is an important distinction for families comparing resorts on the basis of supervised facilities or age-specific programming. The presence of suites and larger villas offers accommodation flexibility, while the eventual arrival of youth spaces is a separate operational milestone that still needs confirmation.
Reaching the resort and planning a stay
According to the announcement, the Red Sea destination is reached through Red Sea International Airport, with access across a 3.3-kilometre crossing to Shura Island by electric vehicle. The destination describes the island as powered entirely by renewable energy. These are operator statements about the planned infrastructure; travellers should check current transfer arrangements, particularly if their journey involves flight connections or onward travel by sea.
Raffles The Red Sea adds another option for visitors who want their hotel, coastal activities and local experiences in one destination. Its location and accommodation are the immediate story, while restaurants, wellness areas and family facilities will develop in stages. The sensible way to book is to match a specific travel date with confirmed operating services, using the official Raffles property information for reservations and updates.
